Metal-bending machine.



mi. 29.5mm. PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.

T; WOLFE.

. METAL BENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILEDJULY 21. 1903.

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PATENTBD JULY 10, 1906. T. WOLFE.

METAL BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1903.

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METAL BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1903.

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PATBNTED JULYlO, 1906. T. WOLFE.

METAL BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1903.

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AI'PLIGATION FILED JULY 21. 1903.

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No. 825,788. PATENTED JULY 10, 1906. T. WOLFE, METAL BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1903.

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' METAL BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1903.

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the tool-operating cam-ring.

UNIJLED STATES PATENT clarion.

THOMAS WOLFE, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. ASSIGNOR TO OAK- DALEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

METAL-BENDlNG MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WOLFE, -a resident of the city of Providence,in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Bending Machines; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention pertains to machines for crimping or rolling in the seamsin securing the heads to the body of metal cans.

It is found in practice that in order to properly secure the head of acan to its body the rim of the head must be first turned over or crimpedonto the body and then rolled down with a different-shaped tool. Theobject of this invention is to construct a machine which willautomatically produce this double rolling on cans having ends ofirregular shapes, such as square, triangular, oblong, and the like.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out inclaims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in .theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine. Fi 3 is a vertical sectionon line 3 3 of Fig. 2, en arged, looking in the direction of the arrows.Fig. 4 is a central vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5is a longitudinal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 looking down. Fig. 6 isa detail of the cam which operates to raise the can, with its head, tobe operated on up into the revolving crimpingtools and withdraw thesame, and alsoat the same time to eject the can previously operated uponfrom arm 4 of the carrier. Fig. 7 is a detail of the cam which raisesand lowers Fig. 8 is a detail showing a plan view of the cam-ring whichoperates the crimping-tools. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of saidcam-ring. Fig. 10 is a detail of the tool-holding arm which is operatedwhen said tool-actuating cam-ring is Specification of Letters Patent.Application filed July 21, 1903. Serial No. 166,426.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.'

Patented J my 10, 1906.

raised. Fig. 11 is a detail of the tool-holding arm which is actuatedwhen said cam-ring is lowered. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the toolarmguide-plate. Fig. 13 isan ed e view of the same. Fig. 14 shows the toolsin position to turn or crimp the edges of the can-a head. Fig. 15 showsthe tools as having com-' pleted the first operation on said can. Fig.16 shows the second-pro front elevation of the. mechanism which'o eratesto raise the can into the position to e operated u on and simultaneouslydischarge the finishe can from its holder. Fig. 18 is a perspective viewrepresenting the finished can.

Referring to the drawings, at A is the frame of the machine, preferablyconstructed in the form of a hollow column, which'is supported on thebase A The upper end of this column is curved forward, forming a bearinA in its end for the upper end of shaft At A is the lower bearing forthis shaft B, which bearing is su ported from the column and held inline wit the bearing A by'the arm A".

C C are two side arms bolted one on each side to the bearin'gA said armsprojecting outward With their outer ends hanging downward, formingsupporting-gjrndes for the vertically-reciprocating yoke that carriesthe tool cam-ring D. This tool cam-ring D(best illustrated inFigs. 8 and9) is shown circular .on its outside and is cut out on the inside tocorrespond inform to the exact shape of the can to be seamed, severaltimes enlarged. The ring is preferably made of steel with its camurfaceshardened. The inside surface of this cam is, beveled back from thecenter both from the upper and under side at d and (1. Within this ringD are the four tool-arms E E and F F. The tool-arms E E are mounted tore ciprocate toward and from each*other.in

suitable grooves or guides on the rotatabl guide-plate G..- Y

H is a cap secured over each guide by screws at h h.

Rotatably arm E E is t e rolling or forming roll 6, and on the outer endof each of these arms is the truncated-cone-shaped roll e, held invertedon a spindle to rotate when it comes in contact with the face (1 of thecam D.

cess tools as rolling i u down the seam on the can. Fig. 17 shows a.

as shown in the cross-section,

ivoted on the inner end of each- IOC ug-up The tool-arms F F are, like EE, set in grooves g g on the uide-plate G with their ends toward each oter, but set at right an gles to arms E E. They are similar inconstruction. Their inner ends hold the rollingdown orfinishing tools ff, while on their outer ends are pivotedsimilar conical rolls f f butset with their small ends up for engaging the lower bevel (1 on thecam-ring D. Compression spirals rin s c e and f 2 f 2 are setbetweeneach air too arms to act with the centrifugal ibrce and hold therevoluble tool-arms out against the surface of the cam which they aresupposed to follow.

B is a vertical hollow shaft journaled in bearings A and A and connectedat its lower end to the guide-plate G, through which said plate receivesits rotary motion by a driving-belt i, which runs over the idlerulleys II and the pulley J, which latter is ed to said shaft .Within thisupright hollow shaft B is the fixed spindle K, with its upper endrojecting above said shaft and a ustably eld in position in the bracketK by the checkmuts k k. The lower end of this spindle projects belowsaid shaft B and supports a shoe K, a ainst which shoe the head of thecan is force in the manner hereinafter described. Said shoe is providedat its lower end with the curved p ate-spring k.

The cam-ring D is removably held in place in the yoke L by drawing thesplit ends of the yoke together at l by the screw 1 This I yoke L isheld to reciprocate vertically on the as shown at M in Fig. 2.

the sleeve L extending column A, around which it is supported on Thesides of the outwardlyortion of this yoke are also supported at 3 inbearings in the guide-arms C O. This yoke is actuated to reciprocatevertically by the cam M in the cam-gear M through the arm M (whichengages said sleeve at m,) rock-shaft M (journaled in bearing m on theside of the column) and arm M, which latter engages said actuatingcam Mat m. This cam-gear M is driven by :the pinion m through the pulley mand shaft m The two cam-operated arms 1 2 and M may be joined togetherin the casting, The weight of this yoke L and ringDD, held within it, isbalanced or supported y the springs l l, which I springs are suspendedfrom a cap Z on the upper end of the frame A and are connected to saidyokeon either side by bolts at Z.

The feedin mechanism is sup orted on the bracket (see Fig. 2,) whiclatter is bolted to the column at n. This bracket is set off at aslightangle to said column for convenience in working. Fixed into andextending upward from said bracket is a spindle O, on which is hung thefour-armed revo- I luble carrier P. This carrier is caused to rotateintermittently one-quarter of a turn at a time by the star-wheel p onthe lower end of the carrier and its driver 1). This driver is supportedon the spindle p and is'caused to rotate at the required speed by thelarge gear M through the shaft 19 and. bevel-gears 1) 11 At the end ofeach of the four arms of this carrier P is a boss p, drilled out toreceive the hollow spind e R, which spindle supports the'cup orwork-holder R on its upper end. Within this cup or work-holder R is anejector-head R fixed on the upper end of a s indle 1", which latterextends down throug fr said hollow spindle R and is held down in placeby a s ring T, which spring allows the spindle to be pressed up from itslower end and raise the ejector B when it is desired to throw out thework from the workholder R..

In order to raise the work u tobe operated upon by the revolving roling-tools, a plate 1", having a roll 1"", is secured to the side of thehollow spindle R and is arranged to work through a slot 12 in the sideof the boss 1).

A groove or slot 8 is formed in the side of the arm S for the purpose ofreceiving the extending roll 1", which roll is for the purpose of beingacted upon by said arm to raise the work when the carrier conveys thesame into a position directly under the operating-tools. (See Fig. 4.)When the work is raised, it is assisted to be brought back again toplace by the tension of the spiral spring 1'.

' After the work has been operated upon it is conveyed by theintermittently-rotating carrier one-quarter of a revolution and ejectedfromthe work-holder4 by the in T coming in contact with the lower end oithe spindle r. This pin T is on the end of the rack t, which rack slidesin the guide t and is actuated to be raised and lowered by the cam Tthrough arm S shafts S lever S, connection Sfllever S, and segment 13.

As the carrier P is revolved and each work-holder R brings its work inturn under the seaming-tools the projectin roll 1' enters the slot 8 inthe arm S and by this arm is raised, carrying the work up against theshoe K to be 0 erated on by the revolving tools, after whic it isdropped down in place again and the carrier P rotated, and this roll 7'passes out of the slot, which is entered by the next succeeding roll.

The operation of the machine is further described as follows: Thework-carrier P has four arms and is rotated intermittently at shortintervals one-quarter of a revolution at a time. During the intervalsthrough which this carrier rests the body of a box ,with the flangedcover laced on its end, is inserted in the front wor -holder No. 1 (seeFig. 1) by the attendant; At the same time the opposite holder No. 3,with the box to be operated on, is raised up by the arm S into therevolving rollers and seamed. The same operation of this arm S, whichraises the work in holder No. 3, ejects the finished can from I theholder N o. 4 by the mechanism described above, leaving said holder No.4 free to receive another can as it presents itself to the operator onthe next quarter-tum of the carrier, and the operation of raisin ,seamiand ejecting the can is repeate at eac quarter-revolution of thecarrier. In order to scam cans-of irregular shapes, it has heretoforebeen necessary to operate the seamingtools by hand in order to producesatisfactory results; but by my improved machine I am able to do thisseaming automatically. To do this properly, two kinds of tools should beused. The first must be of a shape to turn or crimp the edge of themetal back against the can and the second to roll the same down,

producing a smooth joint. To produce this result, the can to be seamedis brought around by the carrier underneath the tools and raised upuntil its loose head comes in contact with the ejecting-spring k on theend of shoe K against which shoe it is firmly pressed and held while itis being operated upon by the tools. The cam-rin D then is raised in themanner described a ove and brought into contact with the cone-shapedrolls 6 e on the outer end of the ra idly-revolving tool-arms E E,pressing them n against the can, and the first o eration is performed.The rin Dis then l hwered, releasing the first too -arms E E and engaing and pressing in the second tool-arms F F y contact with its conicalrolls f f, and the second operation of seamin and finishing iscompleted. By this metho the work of seaming irregular-shaped cans isperformed very rapidly and accurately Without the aid of a skilledattendant. As the workholder R returns to its normal position the springis forces the can out of engagement with the shoe K My invention is notrestricted to the precise construction and arrangement of parts hereinshown and described nor to the various details thereof, as the same maybe modified or rearranged in various particulars without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention', one practical embodiment of whichhas been herein illustrated and described without attempting to show allof the various forms and modifications in which my invention might beembodied.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A machine of the character described comprising tools, asupporting-plate therefor, means for rotating said plate, andnon-rotating means adapted to engage the outer ends of said tools andadapted to impart a sliding reciprocating movement thereto, saidengaging means being located beyond the periphery of said plate.

2. A machine of the character described comprising tools, reciprocatingcarriers therefor, a supportingplate therefor, means for rotating saidplate, and non-rotating means located beyond the periphery of said lateand adapted to engage the outer ends 0 said carriers, whereby the latterare reciprocated;

3. A- machine of the character described comprising tools, for turningthe edge to form the seam, tools for finishing the seam, asupporting-plate, means for rotating said plate, and non-rotating meanslocated beyond the periphery of said late and adapted to alternatelyengage t e outer ends of said tools, whereby asliding reciprocatingmovement is imparted to the atter.

4. A machine of the character described comprising tools, asupporting-plate therefor, means for rotatin said plate, and a cam-ringlocated beyond the periphery of said plate and acting on said tools, andmeans for automatically reciprocating said cam-ring, whereby said toolsare successively operated.

5. A machine of the character described comprisin tools, slidingreciprocating carriers there or, a supporting-plate for said carriers,means for rotating said plate, a camring located beyond the periphery ofsaid plate, and rolls mounted in the outer ends of said carriers andbearing against said ring, and means for reciprocating said ring.

6. A machine of the character described comprising seam-forming tools,seam-finisl1 ing tools, reciprocating carriers for said tools, acam-ring having oppositely-beveled inner faces, upper and lowerbearing-rolls mounted in the outer ends of said carrier and bearingagainst said beveled faces, and means for raisin and lowerin saidcam-ring.

7. machine 0 thevcharacter described comprising forming and finishingtools, carriers therefor, a supporting-plate, means for rotating saidplate, a non-rotating cam-ring surroundin said plate and having beveledsurfaces a a ted to alternately enga e the outer ends of said carriers,and means or reciprocating said cam-ring.

8. A machine of the character described comprising crimping-toolsmounted in reciprocating carriers, a cam-ring adapted to enllO gage theouter ends of said carriers, a non-rotating yoke supporting said cam-rinand means for raising and lowering said yo e.

9. A machine of the character described comprising crimping-toolsmounted on reciprocating carriers, a cam-ring adapted to engage saidcarriers, a non-rotating yoke supporting said cam-ring, a guide for saidyoke, and means for automatically raising and lowering said yoke.

10. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting-plate,crimping-tools mounted on carriers adapted to reciprocate on said plate,means for rotating said plate, a cam-ring surrounding said plate andcarriers, and means for raising and lowering said cam-ring.

11. A machine of the character described comprising a stationarywork-holding shoe, crimping-tools mounted in sliding recipro eatingcarriers, a supporting-plate therefor, means for revolving said plate,and means located beyond the periphery of said plate and acting upon theouter ends of said carriers, whereby said tools are caused to move intoand out of en 'agement with the work.

12. A mac ine of the character described comprising a Work-holding shoe,crimpingtools mounted on reciprocating carriers, means for revolvingsaid carriers around said shoe, non-rotating means surrounding saidcarriers and adapted to engage the outer ends thereof to reciprocate thesame, and means for feeding the work to said shoe.

13. A machine of the character described comprising a stationary shoe,reciprocating tools adapted to revolve around the same, a cam-ringencircling said tools and arranged to reciprocate the same, a rotarycarrier, a plurality of work-holders carried thereby, and means wherebysaid holders are successively raised to bring the blank into engagementwith said shoe.

14. A machine of the character described comprising crimping-tools,means for operating the same, a rotatable carrier, a plurality ofwork-holders carried thereby, and means independent of the carrier withwhich said work-holders intermittently interlock, whereby the work ispresented to the tools.

15. A machine of the character described comprising crimping-tools,means for operating the same, a rotatable carrier, a plurality ofwork-holders carried thereby, means independent of the carrier withwhich said workolders intermittently interlock, whereby the work ispresented to the tools, an ejector carried by each work-holder, andmeans for antomatically o crating the same.

16. A mac ine of the character described comprising crimping-tools,means for operating the same, a rotatable carrier, a plurality ofwork-holders mounted in said carrier and each provided with a projectingmember, and a reciprocating arm adapted to successively interlock withsaid projecting members, whereby said work-holders are elevated.

17. A machine of the character described comprising crimping-tools,means for operating the same, a rotatable carrier provided with aplurality of slotted bosses, a workholder mounted in each boss,reciprocating members working in the slots of said bosses and engagingsaid work-holders, and a reciprocati'ng arm adapted to successivelyinterlock with said reciprocating members,whereby said work-holders areelevated.

18. A machine of the character described comprising crimping-tools,means for operating the same, a rotatable carrier, a plurality ofwork-holders mounted in said carrier andeach provided with a projectingmember, an arm provided with a slot adapted to receive said projectingmembers, and means for reciprocating said arm.

19. A machine of the character described comprising crimping-tools,means for operating the same, a rotatable carrier, a plurality ofwork-holders mounted therein, each provided with an ejector having aprojectin member, and a reciprocating arm provided with a pin adapted toengage the projections on said ejectors.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of anannular forming guide having internal, oppositelyinclinedforming-surfaces, with edge turning and compressing rolls, androll-carrying slides having antifriction-rollers, the roller of one ofthe slides engaging with one of the inclined surfaces of said annularformingguide, and the roller of the other slide engaging with the otherinclined surface.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of amandrel, a rollcarrying head, an edge-turning roll, a compressing-roll,and roll-carrying slides, with an annular forming-guide having internal,0 positelyinclined forming-surfaces adapte for action upon theroll-carrying slides, and means for reciprocating the forming-guide, themovement of the forming-guide in one direction servin to bring theedge-turning roll forward, and the movement of the form ing-guide in theopposite direction serving to cause the forward movement of thecompressing-roll.

22. In .a machine of the character described, the combination of themandrel,with an intermittently-rotated carrier, provided with holdersfor receiving the body portion and bottom plate of a can, theelevator-spindle, the ejector-spindle held within the elevator-spindle,a spring for causing the downward movement of the ejector, means forcausing the upward movement of the ejector to discharge a finished canfrom the receiving-holder of the carrier, and a spring which )rovidesfor the yielding enga ement of the head of the ejector with the end ofthe inserted body portion of a can, upon the upward movement of theelevator-s indle, and the consequent engagement of t e inserted bottomplate of a can with the face of the mandrel.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of themandrel,with a rotary carrier provided with holders for receiving thebody portion and bottom plate of a can, said holders being set at anangle with the axis of the rotary carrier, and having the axis of thecarrier inclined relatively to the axis of the mandrel, means forintermittently rotating the carrier, and means for elevating thereceiving-holders to carry the bottom plate up to the mandrel.

24. In a machine of the character described, the combination of themandrel, with and...

form the seam, removable at one side of the said plate, sliding toolsfor finishing the seam removable at the opposite side of the plate,means for rotating the said plate, and means adapted to alternatelyengage the outer ends of said sliding tools, whereby the said tools arereciprocated.

In testimony whereof I have'hereunto set my hand this 14th day of July,A. D. 1903. THOMAS WOLFE. In presence of HOWARD E. BARLOW, H. J. PAGE. I

